ADRIAN, Mich. — Lawrence Tech wiped out a 16-point first-half deficit and tied the game in the final two minutes, but Siena Heights answered with the last three points as the Blue Devils dropped a 64-61 road decision Wednesday night.
After Lawrence Tech pulled even on Sydney Garon's 3-pointer with 1:39 remaining, Siena Heights responded on the next trip when Jam Thigpen finished a layup to give the Saints a 63-61 edge with 1:12 to play. The Blue Devils were held off the board the rest of the way, and Kalise Bass split a pair of free throws with 17 seconds left to set the final margin.
The finish capped a back-and-forth second half that saw Lawrence Tech erase a 37-21 hole created by a decisive Siena Heights run in the second quarter. The Blue Devils trailed 18-18 after the first quarter but were hit with a flurry of 3-pointers and transition baskets early in the second. A 3-pointer from Lauren DeWolf gave Siena Heights a 21-18 lead, and multiple scores from Ty'Veonna Davis, including a fast-break layup and a later finish in the lane, helped push the deficit to 37-21 before halftime pressure from Lawrence Tech began to steady the game.
Lawrence Tech's response came out of the locker room. The Blue Devils tightened defensively and found better rhythm on offense in the third quarter, outscoring the Saints 21-13 in the frame. Ella Haupert ignited the surge, drilling a 3-pointer at the 4:47 mark to give Lawrence Tech its first lead of the second half at 44-43, then adding a layup later in the quarter for a 49-47 advantage. The Blue Devils continued to attack, and two free throws from Abby Rey with 37 seconds left in the third extended the lead to 53-49 heading into the fourth.
Siena Heights answered quickly to open the final quarter, tying the game at 53-53 on an early jumper from Thigpen and reclaiming the lead on a 3-pointer by E'Moni Finch. From there, the teams traded stops and baskets into the final minutes. Lawrence Tech, which shot 38.2 percent from the field and 38.1 percent from 3-point range (8-for-21), stayed within one possession throughout the period and finally broke through again when Garon connected from beyond the arc to knot the score at 61-61, setting up the deciding sequence.
Haupert led Lawrence Tech with 16 points, nine rebounds and two made 3-pointers, spearheading the third-quarter comeback. Forward Kate Jacobs provided a strong interior presence with 15 points, a game-high-tying 13 rebounds and three blocks as the Blue Devils controlled the glass 42-37, including 13 offensive boards. Lawrence Tech also shared the ball effectively, finishing with 15 assists on 21 made field goals, and converted 84.6 percent at the free-throw line (11-for-13) to fuel the rally.
Siena Heights offset the Blue Devils' rebounding edge with pressure defense, forcing 18 turnovers while committing just nine and turning those extra possessions into key points. DeWolf paced the Saints with 22 points, including five 3-pointers, and seven rebounds, while Davis added 14 points and six boards. Thigpen impacted the game on both ends, closing with eight points, 16 rebounds and five steals, including the late go-ahead basket in the closing minute.
Lawrence Tech, which matched Siena Heights from the arc and battled back from a large first-half deficit, now turns its attention to tightening late-game execution as the Blue Devils move deeper into conference play. The performance in the third quarter and on the glass provides a foundation as the team looks to convert similar efforts into road wins down the stretch of the season. The Blue Devils will be back in action this weekend as they host Madonna University Saturday afternoon in Southfield.
